THE TUBEROSE. 35 



starting the bulbs in damp moss ; but for this purpose 

 the dry bulbs should not be placed in the moss until the 

 middle of May. By the middle of June, when the weather 

 has become warm, and they are set out, they will start to 

 grow at once, and will in this way flower from three to 

 four weeks earlier than if the dry bulb had been put in 

 the open ground, cold as it is in most of the Northern 

 States in May. Of course, it will be understood, that 

 when the dry bulbs are placed in the moss to start, it 

 must be in a green-house, or in some place where the 

 thermometer will average 75 or 80, or they will not 

 start at all, or, at least, very feebly. It will thus be seen, 

 from the foregoing remarks, that it will be utterly useless 

 to attempt to grow Tuberoses at any season unless in a 

 tropical temperature, which at no time should be less 

 than 75, and if it averages 80, all the better. 



TENDENCY TO SPORT. 



Many growers of this flower have been sadly disappoint- 

 ed in the results, their flowers coming single instead of 

 double, and they naturally ask the cause. We can only say, 

 there is a tendency in all sports and hybrids to return to 

 the original or type, and this plant is no exception to the 

 rule. The conditions of growth may have much to do 

 with it. We have known large stocks that were wholly 

 double one year to come nearly all single the next. We 

 cannot satisfactorily account for it, and only know that 

 the annoyance is common in every place where they are 

 grown. From a very close observation, we believe much 

 is due to poor cultivation, and the best remedy is to be 

 found in giving them a very rich soil and good cultiva- 

 tion. Like many other plants, we have found they do 

 best when given a rotation of soil. 



